How Indies Created a Space for me Within the Gaming Community

Animal Crossing: New Horizons debuted at a time where most of us were desperate for comfort and entertainment. Like so many, I was unemployed, scared, and stuck inside my house in March of 2020. It’s not a unique experience by any means, but little did I know that building my island would set off a chain of events that would open me up to the wide world of indie games, and end up changing my life.

Stuck indoors and newly unemployed, I decided to start streaming ACNH on Twitch. My history of gaming was pretty limited to childhood hours spent on my Gameboy Advance, but I had that lockdown itch to connect with others during such an isolating time. Streaming opened me up to an amazing community of friends and gamers that I didn’t know existed. With those new relationships came exposure to indies, and I pivoted to playing them exclusively. I remember devouring Firewatch in one weekend and doing dozens of Monster Prom runs until Damien finally agreed to go to the prom with me (still riding that high four years later)! 

I was hungry for more, and eager to explore everything indie games had to offer. What struck me about my playthroughs was that I, someone with very little gaming experience, was able to complete these titles because most of them required nothing more of me than pushing a button or two. I was also meeting some of the most interesting characters I’d ever encountered— characters that I thought could only exist in books. As much as I loved my Animal Crossing villagers, they could never understand my complicated dating history quite as well as Jala from Thirsty Suitors, or indulge my passion for pop music and maximalism like Sayonara Wild Hearts. I’ve also been able to see myself (fat, queer, emotionally damaged) represented positively and often lacking stereotypes. You’re telling me the character customization in Witchy Life Story will let me be plus size AND I can have the sideburns of my dreams? Indies don’t always appeal to the masses, but instead focus on the genuine and diverse human experience. 

I find that I keep coming back to indies because I feel so physically and emotionally seen in a way that other mediums of art and media haven’t been able to capture based on my lived experience. Indie games just have that sort of magic, and I know that everyone has the possibility to see themselves in these games, too. 

Years later, I am now entering my third year as a co-host of an indie game podcast and content creator. I’m currently in my puzzle platformer era, but shout out to my ACNH Villagers and Damien from Monster Prom, because I’ll never forget my roots. I think it’s true that there’s an indie game out there for everyone, no matter their age, interests, skills, or ability. I hope to be playing these games and celebrating their artistry for a long time. 

Article written by Kate Hunter

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